And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!"
John 6:12-14 (ESV)
The "ministry" of feeding the five thousand was successful, if you call it a ministry. How did this success take place? Before it happened, there were discussions, as there are today. Philip was stating the business side of the matter. He was concerned that a tremendous amount of resources would never cover the expenses needed to accomplish this task. Andrew, however, was focused on what they had, and presenting that to Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon said this: "Philip says, ‘Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient,’ and Andrew says, ‘Well, no, it is not, but there is a lad here with five barley loaves and two small fishes.’ I like this brotherly consultation of willing minds. Philip is willing to begin if he has a grand start; he must see at least two hundred penny-worth of bread in hand, and then he is ready to entertain the idea. Andrew, on the other hand, is willing to commence with a small capital; a few loaves and fishes will enable him to start. When saints converse together they help each other, and, perhaps, what the one does not discover, the other may."
Success is not determined by the abundance of resources, but by the abundance of Jesus. What God gives us is sufficient for God to use us in the tasks He created us to perform. I am thankful for the dialogue between Philip, Andrew, and Jesus, and the lessons learned. I have often seen God do more than the resources I have could ever accomplish in my life. I am thankful. |
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